30 Years of Life-Changing Advice From Men's Health

In the three decades since our first issue, we've stuck to one mission: to provide you with the smartest expert-backed, evidence-supported strategies to improve how you live and enjoy every aspect of your life. But don't take our word for it. See for yourself.

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Men's Health

Our First Issue!

After a couple years of testing, Men's Health was launched in winter 1988. Randy Travis, the country-music legend, graced the cover. The issue had 96 pages, cost $2.95, and offered these tips:

• Feel the beat when you work out and you'll feel less beat after it's over. Our picks: Chuck Berry, Bruce Springsteen

• Wash your face with a cleansing lotion, use a toner, and then always finish with a moisturizer that has SPF.

• A big one: the rowing machine. It's safe, weatherproof, and great for working your largest muscle groups.

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Men's Health

Testing, Testing

In the spring of 1986, Rodale ran "Prevention Magazine's Guide to Men's Health." Top test-issue stories: "The Healthy Man's Guide to Beer" (our favorites: Anchor Steam, Blatz, Guinness Stout, Heileman's Old Style, O'Keefe Ale) and "Do You Have Any Real Friend?" (two-thirds of men named their wife as their best friend, but only 40 percent of women reciprocated).

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Men's Health

Our First Recipe: Chili

What You'll Need:

• 1/2 lb lean ground turkey or chicken breast*

• 1/2 cup chopped onion

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• Generous dash ground cumin

• 1 (16 oz) can kidney beans

• 4 oz tomato sauce

• 1/2 cup canned tomatoes and green chiles

—

Make It:

In a medium saucepan, cook poultry with onion, garlic, and cumin over medium hear until browned, stirring to break up the meat

*Update: Feel free to double the protein, and a little hot sauce never hurts, either.

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Getty Images/StockPhotosArt

The D-Word Rears Its Ugly Head

We called our first major article on depression "Don't Feel Bad" and stated, "Depression is often chemical, not emotional, the experts say." A few tips that hold true:

Treating depression can help lessen the odds of dying from heart disease

Taking medication works best in conjunction with some form of talk therapy

Too many men decide to self-treat their symptoms when they should see a doctor. (March 1994)

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Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives

Timeless Tip: Laugh

One immune-system booster: humor! Students had higher antibody levels when watching Richard Pryor Live! compared with when they watched an educational video.

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Men's Health

First Abs-Tastic Cover

In October 1996, Men's Health took a cue from its German edition and started shooting its cover subjects in black and white and often showing washboard abs. That year, model Gregg Avedon posed for his first cover, eventually appearing on 16 of them. Also handy in the kitchen, Avedon wrote the popular "Muscle Chow" column (protein powder in everything!).

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Getty Images/Science & Society Picture Library

Style Fouls

We are sorry for recommending the following sartorial blunders.

Casio Wrist Controller: A $90 watch/remote for your TV and VCR.

Adidas Tubular 2: Running shoes that let you pump air into the bottom chambers for better "support."

Purple fleece-lined jeans: Oops.

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Men's Health

Workout Trend

In September 1994, we rated the Marky Mark Workout five (out of five) dumbbells for difficulty and three for "host unbearability." Marky's moves included pullups, triceps pulldowns, and triceps extensions.

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Getty Images/Sidekick

Timeless Tip: Posture Pose

To ensure good posture, you need strong back, abdominal, and glute muscles. Work them all: Start by lying facedown, hands at shoulder level,, as you would for a pushup. Keeping your hips against the floor, straighten your arms to lift your upper body. Return slowly to the start. Repeat for 1 minute.

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Men's Health

First Poster Workout

January/February 1997: The muscle plan debuted with "Unbelievable Abs." MH said: Do 1 set of each of the following exercises - daily.

Seated knee raise (!5 to 20 reps)

Side bend with a 20- to 30-pound dumbbell (8 to 12 reps)

Trunk curl with a twist (8 to 12 reps)

Trunk curl with a 5-pound plate (8 to 12 reps)

Bicycle crunch (10 to 15 reps)

Negative chinup (8 to 12 reps)

Reverse trunk curl (8 to 12 reps)

Seated curl (8 to 12 reps)

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Getty Images/yacobchuk

Introducing: Jimmy's First Column

We hired James P. Kennedy in January 1998. The guy originally didn't want to write a column for us. "I deal with my customers' problems all day," he said. "Why would I want to deal with yours?" But he did it for us anyway (After insisting we pay him only in cash). From that issue, "Jimmy the Bartender" became a reader favorite. His first question dealt with an age-old problem: a happily married man who was strongly attracted to other women - mainly blondes - asking if it was okay to have an affair, just once. The answer (condensed): Enjoy those raging hormones. They mean you're alive, son. Let them loose. Just do it at home.

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Getty Images/ALEXANDER KLEIN

Nothing's Changed

Red Bull hits the market. We reported that it taste like "a liquid cold lozenge." October 1998

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Men's Health

Stress Buster

"Stop the Madness!" addressed the issue of men and rage in October 1998. Someone pissing you off in the grocery checkout? Pretend that person lives solely to upset you. Make up a story about how they're part of a larger conspiracy meant to take you down. By the time you're finished creating the plot, the other person will be gone. Dealing with an annoying coworker? Ask, "How can I help you?" If they do want something, they'll ask. If not, they'll likely leave.

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Crea-What?

Creatine, a natural substance found in raw meat and fisih, became a hot supplement among athletes because of its potential to enhance stamina and recovery. (April 1995)

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Getty Images/MirageC

Inject Where?

Men's Health named Caverject, a self-injection treatment for erectile dysfuntion, the next big thing in E.D. Wisely, many men didn't want to stick a needle into their penis and waited a few more years for Viagra.

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Getty Images/Michael Cogliantry

Style Foul

Horizontal-fly boxers. Because, for far too long, men suffered through the turmoil, anguish, and frustration of removing themselves from vertically positioned underpants flies.

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Getty Images/Image Source

Timeless Tip: Scrub Away Cravings

Brush your teeth when you're hungry. The flavor of the toothpaste can take the edge off a sugar craving, and even if it doesn't, at least you'll have a dazzling smile.

In July 2000, we named the squat the best strength exercise of all time. Get more out of it: Focus on squatting deeper rather than heavier. The Key is to descend until your thighs are parallel to the floor while still keeping your heels on the floor and maintaining the natural arch in your lower back. This deeper squat builds muscle faster and is safer on your knees.

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Darryl Estrine

The Girl Next Door #1

Nicole Beland, our first (of six!) GND columnists, offered her initial answers to readers in November 2002. Beland on pickup lines: "Anything you say to a woman as she's strolling by is categorized as a catcall. And any guy who catcalls women is immediately categorized as a meathead."

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Men's Health

First Athlete Cover

It was October 2003 and Tom Brady was a few months shy of his first Super Bowl win. He returned to the cover a decade later. Tip: "Once you stop improving," he said, "everybody else will catch up."

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Getty Images/Allen Donikowski

New Franchise!

The Belly Off! Club column, dedicated to sharing weight-loss success stories, debuted in January/February 2001. Marty Edwards lost 180 pounds. His tip: "I quit watching TV shows until I got over the desire to eat while they were on."

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Men's Health

The First Choice

Eat This, Not That!, the juggernaut book franchise, began as a wee third-of-a page column in our March 2002 issue with this striking finding:

In July 2003, the government required that companies list how much trans fat is in foods and dietary supplements. (MH had been sounding the alarm far earlier.)Twelve years later, the FDA banned the bad fats in packaged food.

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Men's Health

Dwayne-ology!

In April 2004, the Rock landed number one of three covers. His best quote: "There's no substitute for hard work. At the end of the day, hard work always pays. If not monetarily, it will pay dividends to you in some form."

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Men's Health

MH Investigates

In November 2004, we reported on a deadly new superbug, MRSA, that targeted young athletic men. The story, "The Killer in the Locker Room," uncovered useful tips to avoid the disease.

Don't share workout great with a buddy. This includes towels, deodorant, razors, and shower shoes. Even if they say please.

If you suffer a wound, immediately clean it with an antiseptic watch wash and seal it with a waterproof bandage.

Always shower after a workout. No matter if you're sweaty or not. "Preventing these infections comes down to basic cleanliness."

Wipe down the equipment before and after your sets.

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Men's Health

Race to the Front

Ryan Reynolds (three covers). Best quote: "When you have expectations, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. I didn't expect to finish the marathon. I trained to finish it."

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Men's Health

On Trend

Mindfulness: Our September 2004 cover star, Jet Li, an action hero and then five-time Chinese national wushu champion, shared his touchstone, the Buddhist concept of balance. "All your problems are on the inside," he said. "The problems aren't from the outside."

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Getty Images/Frank Bean

We Told you So

We wrote aboubt "The Cure for Diabetes" in November 2006, a decade before the anti-sugar campaign kicked off and before the rise of low-carb eating plans. Sugar and processed carbohydrates, we argued, were inflating the waistlines of Americans, futzing with their blood-sugar levels, and making them more susceptible to diabetes. The advice is still true: Cut back on your sugar and nutritionally empty carbs (e.g., white bread, crackers, corn chips).

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MH Investigates

In May 2005, we reported that scientists at the University of Cincinnati had discovered that the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) causes prostate-cancer cells to multiply. We followed the research, publishing several stories, and later many companies began phasing out use of the chemical in their products.

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